Backlight module

ABSTRACT

A backlight module includes a back plate structure, a light source disposed in the back plate structure, at least one wire connected to the light source, and at least one wire fixing frame fixed on the back plate structure. Each wire fixing frame includes a main part, a first fixing part disposed on a side of the main part, a second fixing part disposed on a side of the main part and opposite to the first fixing part, and an extending part extending in a direction from the second fixing part to the first fixing part. A wire outlet is defined between the extending part and the first fixed part, and a wire inlet is opposite to the wire outlet. A wire hold space is defined among the main part, the first fixing part, the second fixing part, and the back plate structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of an application Ser. No. 12/168,108,filed on Jul. 5, 2008, now pending, which claims the priority benefit ofChina application serial no. 200720193965.2, filed on Oct. 29, 2007. Theentirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is herebyincorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a backlight module. More particularly, theinvention relates to a backlight module using a wire fixing frame inwhich a wire is not easy to be torn.

2. Description of Related Art

With the progress of science and technology, display technology has beendeveloped rapidly, and light and thin flat panel displays (FPDs) aregradually replacing conventional thick and heavy cathode ray tube (CRT)displays. Normal FPDs include plasma display panels (PDPs) and liquidcrystal displays (LCDs), which are both widely applied in PDAs, laptops,mobile phones, and televisions and so on.

Taking LCDs for example, an LCD includes a LCD panel and a backlightmodule. The LCD panel is composed by two transparent substrates and aliquid crystal layer disposed between the two transparent substrates,and the backlight module provides a light source required by the LCDpanel, so as to realize the display effect of the LCD. Generallyspeaking, backlight modules are classified into a direct type and a sideincident type.

Both conventional displays using CRTs and FPDs use many wires inside totransmit power or signals. In order to fix the wires in the displays,appropriate wire fixing structures will be designed inside the displays.

FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged view of a part of a conventional wirefixing structure. Referring to FIG. 1, the wire fixing structure 120includes a main fixing member 122 and an opening control member 124. Themain fixing member 122 is connected to a frame 100, so as to form afixing space between the main fixing member 122 and the frame 100. Inaddition, the opening control member 124 is connected to the frame 100,thus dividing the fixing space into a hold hole 126 and an inlet passage128. The inlet passage 128 is of a convergent type towards a directionof the hold hole 126.

As the inlet passage 128 is of the convergent type towards the directionof the hold hole 126, a wire 140 can easily pass through the inletpassage 128 and slide into the hold hole 126. Therefore, when the wire140 is torn to leave the hold hole 126, the opening control member 124is under a force and urges the main fixing member 122, so as to limitthe movement of the wire 140 in an X direction, and prevent the wire 140from leaving the hold hole 126. However, this design fails toeffectively limit the movement of the wire in both X and Y directions.Moreover, as some space still exists between the opening control member124 and the main fixing member 122, the wire 140 can move in the Xdirection. Therefore, the convention wire fixing structure does noteffectively fix the wire, and influences the efficiency of the backlightmodule at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a backlight module, which has a wire fixingframe that improves the effect of wire fixing, so as to prevent thewires of the backlight from being torn broken in movement.

The invention provides a backlight module, which includes a back platestructure, a light source, at least one wire, and at least one wirefixing frame. The light source is disposed in the back plate structure,and the wire is connected to the light source. The wire fixing frame isfixed on the back plate structure. Each wire fixing frame includes amain part, a first fixing part, a second fixing part, and an extendingpart. The first fixing part is disposed on a side of the main part. Anupper surface of the first fixing part protrudes from a surface of themain part and contacts with the back plate structure, and the firstfixing part has a round corner in a central portion near the main part.The second fixing part is disposed on a side of the main part, and isopposite to the first fixing part. An upper surface of the second fixingpart protrudes from the surface of the main part and contacts with theback plate structure. The extending part extends in a direction from thesecond fixing part to the first fixing part. A wire outlet is definedbetween the extending part and the first fixed part, and a wire inlet isopposite to the wire outlet. A wire hold space is defined among the mainpart, the first fixing part, the second fixing part, and the back platestructure. At least one wire passes from the wire inlet to the wireoutlet through the wire hold space, and the at least one wire is fixedat a position by the round corner of the first fixing part and theextending part.

In one embodiment of the invention, a lower surface of the first fixingpart has a recessed buckling member buckled on the back plate structure.Further, the back plate structure includes, for example, a limitingbump, and the limiting bump is buckled with the recessed bucklingmember.

In one embodiment of the invention, the backlight module furtherincludes at least one locking member, the upper surface of the secondfixing part has a fixing hole, and the second fixing part is fixed onthe back plate structure through the fixing hole and the locking member.

In one embodiment, the main part, the first fixing part, the secondfixing part, and the extending part are one-piece formed.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of the firstfixing part is quadrangular.

In one embodiment of the invention, the extending part is a rectangularblock.

In one embodiment of the invention, an end of the extending part is arounded end.

In one embodiment of the invention, a height of the first fixing part islower than a height of the second fixing part.

In one embodiment of the invention, a height of the extending part isequal to or similar to the height of the first fixing part.

The invention is further directed to providing a backlight module, whichincludes a back plate structure, a light source, a wire, and a wirefixing frame. The back plate structure has a limiting bump. The lightsource is disposed in the back plate structure, and the wire isconnected to the light source. The wire fixing frame is disposed on theback plate structure, so as to position the wire by using the limitingbump and the wire fixing frame together. The wire fixing frame includesa main part, a first fixing part, and a second fixing part. The mainpart has a wire accommodation slot on a surface facing the back platestructure, and the wire is positioned between the wire accommodationslot and the back plate structure. The first fixing part is disposed ona side of the main part, and has a first limiting sidewall, a secondlimiting sidewall, and a step part. The first limiting sidewall and thesecond limiting sidewall form an included angle. One side of the steppart has a third limiting sidewall connected to the first limitingsidewall and the second limiting sidewall, and the third limitingsidewall is substantially perpendicular to the first limiting sidewalland the second limiting sidewall. The other side of the step part abutsagainst the back plate structure. The limiting bump is buckled in thethird limiting sidewall of the step part, and an inner edge of thelimiting bump abuts against the first limiting sidewall and the secondlimiting sidewall. The second fixing part is disposed on the other sideof the main part, and the second fixing part is fixed on the back platestructure through a positioning member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first fixing part furtherincludes two light leakage shielding pins disposed at two opposite sidesof the step part respectively. The two side edges of the limiting bumpare respectively supported on the light leakage shielding pinscorrespondingly.

In one embodiment of the invention, the limiting bump has a limitingwall and a connecting wall connected between the limiting wall and theback plate structure. The limiting wall is supported on the thirdlimiting sidewall of the step part and has the same shape with the thirdlimiting sidewall, and an inner edge of the limiting wall abuts againstthe first limiting sidewall and the second limiting sidewall.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second fixing part is fixed onthe back plate structure by locking through a screw.

The invention uses a height structure of the round corner of the firstfixing part, the extending part, and the wire hold space of the wirefixing frame, so the movement ranges of the wire in X, Y and Zdirections are limited. Compared with the prior art, the invention hasbetter fixing effect. In addition, as the wire fixing frame has betterfixing effect, the wire of the backlight module is not easy to bedamaged in movement.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages ofthe invention comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures aredescribed in detail below.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic enlarged view of a part of a conventional wirefixing structure.

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a backlight module according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic enlarged view of a part of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of the wire fixing frame of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of limiting the wire in the wire fixing framestructure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic three-dimensional views of a backlightmodule from different visual angles according to another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the limiting bump shownin FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic three-dimensional views of the wire fixingframe from different visual angles.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a backlight module according to anembodiment of the invention. FIG. 2B is a schematic enlarged view of apart of FIG. 2A. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the backlight module 200of this embodiment is a side incident type backlight module 200, whichis applicable to a display, e.g., an LCD display. The backlight module200 includes a back plate structure 220, a light source 240, at leastone wire 260, and at least one wire fixing frame 280. The light source240 is disposed in the back plate structure 220, and the light source240, for example, is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or alight-emitting diode (LED). In this embodiment, the light source 240 isdisposed on a side of the back plate structure 220. The light generatedby the light source 240 will be emitted from a front surface 220 a ofthe back plate structure 220 in form of a surface light source. Inaddition, the wire 260 is connected to the light source 240, and thewire 260 is used for electrically connecting the light source 240 and apower supplier. Normally, the wire 260 connected to the light source 240will be fixed on a rear surface 220 b of the back plate structure 220.In this embodiment, the wire 260 is fixed to the rear surface of theback plate structure 220 through the wire fixing frame 280.

FIG. 3 is a schematic enlarged view of the wire fixing frame 280.Referring to FIG. 3, the wire fixing frame 280 includes a main part 282,a first fixing part 284, a second fixing part 286, and an extending part288. It should be noticed that the main part 282, the first fixing part284, the second fixing part 286, and the extending part 288 may be aone-piece formed structure, and for example, made of plastic or metals.

In particular, the first fixing part 284 is disposed on a side of themain part 282, and an upper surface of the first fixing part 284protrudes from the surface of the main part 282. Moreover, the uppersurface of the first fixing part 284 may be quadrangular. When the wirefixing frame 280 is fixed on the back plate structure, the upper surfaceof the first fixing part 284 will contact with the back plate structure220 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B). Moreover, the first fixing part 284has a round corner 284 b at a central portion near the main part 282,for limiting the movement of the wire 260 in the Y direction. Besides, alower surface of the first fixing part 284 further includes a recessedbuckling member 284 a directly buckled on the back plate structure 220.For example, the back plate structure 222 has a restriction element 222(shown in FIGS. 2B and 4), and the recessed buckling member 284 a isbuckled by the restriction element 222. For example, the back platestructure 220 has a limiting bump 222 (shown in FIGS. 2B and 4), and thelimiting bump 222 is used to be buckled with the recessed bucklingmember 284 a.

In addition, the second fixing part 286 is disposed on a side of themain part 282, and is opposite to the first fixing part 284. An uppersurface of the second fixing part 286 protrudes from the surface of themain part 282. When the wire fixing frame 280 is fixed on the back platestructure 220, the upper surface of the second fixing part 286 willcontact with the back plate structure 220 (as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B).In one embodiment, a height of the second fixing part 286 is higher thana height of the first fixing part 284. In one embodiment, the backlightmodule 200 further includes at least one locking member 300, the uppersurface of the second fixing part 286 has a fixing hole 286 a, and thesecond fixing part 286 is fixed on the back plate structure 220 throughthe fixing hole 286 a and the locking member 300.

Particularly, the locking member 300, for example, is a screw or a bolt.In this embodiment, when the wire fixing frame 280 is to be fixed on theback plate structure 220, the recessed buckling member 284 a of thefirst fixing part 284 is buckled on the back plate structure 220, thenthe wire fixing frame 280 is locked on the back plate structure 220 withthe locking member 300 through the fixing hole 286 a of the secondfixing part 286. Therefore, the wire fixing frame 280 of this embodimentis a structure easy to manufacture, convenient to assemble, andconvenient to rework.

In addition, the wire fixing frame 280 further includes an extendingpart 288, as shown in FIG. 3, which, for example, is a rectangularblock. The extending part 288 extends in a direction from the secondfixing part 286 to the first fixing part 284, for limiting the movementof the wire 260 in the X direction. In one embodiment, an end of theextending part 288 is a rounded end 288 a, so as to protect the wire 260from being damaged. Moreover, a height of the extending part 288, forexample, is equal to or similar to the height of the first fixing part284.

Particularly, referring to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3 together, a wire outlet292 is defined between the extending part 288 and the first fixing part284, and a wire inlet 294 is opposite to the wire outlet 292. A wirehold space 290 is defined among the main part 282, the first fixing part284, the second fixing part 286, and the back plate structure 220.Therefore, the wire 260 passes from the wire inlet 294 to the wireoutlet 292 through the wire hold space 290. At this time, the wire 260is limited at a position by the round corner 284 b of the first fixingpart 284 and the extending part 288.

More particularly, as the wire hold space 290 is defined by the mainpart 282, the first fixing part 284, the second fixing part 286, and theback plate structure 220, the height of the wire hold space 290 will bedefined by the first fixing part 284, the second fixing part 286, andthe extending part 288. Therefore, by controlling the heights of thefirst fixing part 284, the second fixing part 286, and the extendingpart 288, the height of the wire hold space 290 formed after the wirefixing frame 280 and the back plate structure 220 are combined can becontrolled. Thus, the wire 260 will be limited by the height of the wirehold space 290 inside the wire hold space 290 in the Z direction.

In addition, referring to FIG. 4, when the wire 260 is torn in the Ydirection, the wire 260 will be retained by the round corner 284 b ofthe first fixing part 284, and will not be easily broken due to thetearing in the Y direction. When the wire 260 is torn in the Xdirection, the wire 260 will be retained by the extending part 288, andwill not be easily broken due to the tearing in the X direction.Therefore, when the wire fixing frame 280 is used to fix the wire 260,the position of the wire 260 can be limited, i.e., the wire 260 will beretained in the X, Y and Z direction, so as to prevent the wire 260 frombeing torn broken in movement.

Furthermore, the wire fixing frame is not limited to being applied inbacklight modules only in the invention. In fact, the wire fixing frameof the invention is also applicable to other devices, and allapplications of fixing wires on a substrate (such as the back platestructure) can use the wire fixing structure to fix the wires.

In the above backlight module 200, in order to prevent the light leakagecaused by breaches due to an L-shaped positioning structure designed onthe back plate structure 220 for buckling the recessed buckling member284 a, and to prevent the lamp wire fixing frame from loosing due todeformation of the L-shaped positioning structure when the lamp wirefixing frame is applied with a large external force, the inventionfurther provides another implementation of using a limiting bump on theback plate structure together with another wire fixing frame, thusavoiding the light leakage, and preventing the possible positioningfailure of the wire fixing frame due to large external force.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic three-dimensional views of a backlightmodule from different visual angles according to another embodiment ofthe invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of thelimiting bump shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B. FIGS. 7A and 7B areschematic three-dimensional views of the wire fixing frame fromdifferent visual angles. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the backlightmodule 200′ also includes a back plate structure 220′, a light source(not shown), at least one wire 260′, and a wire fixing frame 280′. Asshown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, and FIG. 6, a limiting bump 222′ is formed onthe back plate structure 220′. Further, referring to FIG. 6, thelimiting bump 222′ includes a limiting wall 2222′ and a connecting wall2224′ connected between the limiting wall 2222′ and the back platestructure 220′. In this embodiment, the light source is disposed at aside edge of the back plate structure 220′, and thus is not shown in thefigure. The wire 260′ is connected to the light source, such that thelight source is electrically connected with the power supplier.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the wire fixing frame 280′ is disposed onthe back plate structure 220′, so as to position the wire 260′ by usingthe limiting bump 222′ and the wire fixing frame 280′ together. Further,referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the wire fixing frame 280′ includes a mainpart 282′, a first fixing part 284′, and a second fixing part 286′. Themain part 282′ has a wire accommodation slot R at a surface facing theback plate structure 220′. As shown in FIG. 5A, the wire 260′ ispositioned between the wire accommodation slot R and the back platestructure 220′. Still referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first fixingpart 284′ is disposed at a side of the main part 282′, and the firstfixing part 284′ has a first limiting sidewall S1, a second limitingsidewall S2, and a step part 2842′. The first limiting sidewall S1 andthe second limiting sidewall S2 form an included angle θ. One side ofthe step part 2842′ has a third limiting sidewall S3 connected to thefirst limiting sidewall S1 and the second limiting sidewall S2, and thethird limiting sidewall S3 is substantially perpendicular to the firstlimiting sidewall S1 and the second limiting sidewall S2. The other sideof the step part 2842′ abuts against the back plate structure 220′. Thesecond fixing part 286′ is disposed at the other side of the main part282′. As shown in FIG. 5A, the second fixing part 286′ is fixed on theback plate structure 220′ through a positioning member 287′. In thisembodiment, the positioning member 287′ is a screw, and the secondfixing part 286′ is locked on the back plate structure 220′ through thescrew.

Referring to FIG. 5A again, when it intends to use the wire fixing frame280′ to fix the wire 260′ on the back plate structure 220′, the user mayfirst place the wire 260′ in the wire accommodation slot R of the wirefixing frame 280′, then buckles the limiting bump 222′ on the back platestructure 220′ with the third limiting sidewall S3 of the step part2842′, such that the wire fixing frame 280′ may not shiftlongitudinally. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A, the limiting wall 2222′of the limiting bump 222′ and the third limiting sidewall S3 have thesame shape, and thus when the limiting bump 222′ is buckled with thethird limiting sidewall S3 of the step part 2842′, the limiting wall2222′ is supported on the third limiting sidewall S3 of the step part2842′, and the inner edge of the limiting wall 2222′ abuts against thefirst limiting sidewall S1 and the second limiting sidewall S2.Therefore, the wire fixing frame 280′ may be avoided from shiftingtransversely. Finally, the positioning member 287′, for example, thescrew, is used to fix the second fixing part 286′ of the wire fixingframe 280′ on the back plate structure 220′. The limiting bump 222′ hasa higher structural strength than the L-shaped positioning structure forbuckling the recessed buckling member 284 a shown in FIG. 2B, and thuswhen the lamp wire 260′ is applied with an external force, the limitingbump 222′ is less likely to generate plastic deformation, therebyavoiding the positioning failure.

Moreover, in order to prevent the light leakage caused by breaches dueto the L-shaped positioning structure fabricated on the back platestructure 220 for buckling the recessed buckling member 284 a as shownin FIG. 2B, referring to FIG. 7A, the first fixing part 284′ of the wirefixing frame 280′ further includes two light leakage shielding pins2844′ disposed on two opposite sides of the step part 2842′respectively. Referring to FIG. 5B, when the limiting bump 222′ isbuckled with the step part 2842′, two side edges of the limiting bump222′ are respectively supported on the light leakage shielding pins2844′ correspondingly, and thus the light leakage shielding pins 2844′may prevent the light leakage.

In view of the above, the invention adopts the round corner of the firstfixing part, and the height structures of the extending part and thewire accommodation part in the wire fixing frame, thus limiting themoving range of the wire at three directions, namely, X, Y, Zdirections, and having preferred fixing effect as compared with theprior art. In addition, the wire fixing frame has preferred fixingeffect, such that the wire of the backlight module is less likely to bedamaged during transportation.

Furthermore, the invention also provides another type of wire fixingframe, so as to avoid light leakage by using the light leakage shieldingpins on the wire fixing frame and changing the shape of the limitingbump on the back plate structure, thereby avoiding the possiblepositioning failure of the wire fixing frame due to large externalforce.

It will be apparent to persons of ordinary art in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of theinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention covermodifications and variations of this invention provided they fall withinthe scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A backlight module, comprising: a back plate structure; a lightsource, disposed in the back plate structure; at least one wire,connected to the light source; and at least one wire fixing frame, fixedon the back plate structure, wherein each wire fixing frame comprises: amain part; a first fixing part, disposed on a side of the main part,wherein an upper surface of the first fixing part protrudes from asurface of the main part and contacts with the back plate structure, andthe first fixing part has a round corner in a central portion near themain part; a second fixing part, disposed on a side of the main part,and opposite to the first fixing part, wherein an upper surface of thesecond fixing part protrudes from the surface of the main part andcontacts with the back plate structure; and an extending part, extendingin a direction from the second fixing part to the first fixing part;wherein a wire outlet is defined between the extending part and thefirst fixed part, and a wire inlet is opposite to the wire outlet, awire hold space is defined among the main part, the first fixing part,the second fixing part, and the back plate structure, the wire passesfrom the wire inlet to the wire outlet through the wire hold space, andthe wire is fixed at a position by the round corner of the first fixingpart and the extending part.
 2. The backlight module as claimed in claim1, wherein a lower surface of the first fixing part has a recessedbuckling member buckled on the back plate structure.
 3. The backlightmodule as claimed in claim 2, wherein the back plate structure comprisesa limiting bump, and the limiting bump is buckled with the recessedbuckling member.
 4. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, furthercomprising at least one locking member, wherein the upper surface of thesecond fixing part has a fixing hole, and the second fixing part isfixed on the back plate structure through the fixing hole and thelocking member.
 5. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe main part, the first fixing part, the second fixing part, and theextending part are one-piece formed.
 6. The backlight module as claimedin claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the first fixing part isquadrangular.
 7. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein theextending part is a rectangular block.
 8. The backlight module asclaimed in claim 1, wherein an end of the extending part is a roundedend.
 9. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height ofthe first fixing part is lower than a height of the second fixing part.10. The backlight module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a height of theextending part is equal to or similar to the height of the first fixingpart.
 11. A backlight module, comprising: a back plate structure,comprising a limiting bump; a light source, disposed in the back platestructure; a wire, connected to the light source; and a wire fixingframe, disposed on the back plate structure, so as to position the wireby using the limiting bump and the wire fixing frame together, the wirefixing frame comprising: a main part, comprising a wire accommodationslot on a surface facing the back plate structure, wherein the wire ispositioned between the wire accommodation slot and the back platestructure; a first fixing part, disposed on a side of the main part, andcomprising a first limiting sidewall, a second limiting sidewall, and astep part, wherein the first limiting sidewall and the second limitingsidewall form an included angle, one side of the step part comprises athird limiting sidewall connected to the first limiting sidewall and thesecond limiting sidewall, the third limiting sidewall is substantiallyperpendicular to the first limiting sidewall and the second limitingsidewall, the other side of the step part abuts against the back platestructure, the limiting bump is buckled with the third limiting sidewallof the step part, and an inner edge of the limiting bump abuts againstthe first limiting sidewall and the second limiting sidewall; a secondfixing part, disposed on the other side of the main part, wherein thesecond fixing part is fixed on the back plate structure through apositioning member.
 12. The backlight module as claimed in claim 11,wherein the first fixing part further comprises two light leakageshielding pins disposed on two opposite sides of the step partrespectively, and two side edges of the limiting bump are respectivelysupported on the light leakage shielding pins correspondingly.
 13. Thebacklight module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the limiting bumpcomprises a limiting wall and a connecting wall connected between thelimiting wall and the back plate structure, the limiting wall issupported on the third limiting sidewall of the step part and has thesame shape with the third limiting sidewall, and an inner edge of thelimiting wall abuts against the first limiting sidewall and the secondlimiting sidewall.
 14. The backlight module as claimed in claim 11,wherein the second fixing part is fixed on the back plate structure bylocking through a screw.